School committee approves $2.5M state grant for HVAC shop expansion and signs off on travel and multiple personnel contracts

The Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical School Committee unanimously approved a $2.5 million grant from the Healey-Driscoll administration to fund capital improvements, shop expansion and the purchase and installation of new HVAC equipment for the district’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning CTE program.

Superintendent Davis presented the grant award and said the district will work over the next year to expand the HVAC instructional shop and modernize equipment.

The committee also approved several operational items and personnel actions by roll call vote:

- Out-of-state travel: The committee approved a four-day AP Environmental Science training for a biology instructor at a total cost of $1,773.95. The committee also approved travel to the SkillsUSA national conference in Atlanta June 1–6 for four advisers, eight students and a school officer; the presentation listed an estimated total cost of $40,449 (conference package/rooms $31,600; registration $2,700; meals and other costs as recorded in the minutes).

- Calendar and handbooks: The committee approved the proposed 2026–27 school calendar, the proposed student handbook updates, and minor updates to the athletic handbook (including a wording change from “sex-based harassment” to “sexual-based harassment,” a junior varsity addition for indoor track, and an adjustment to athletic trainer availability). The committee also approved a date-only update to concussion/head-injury policies.

- Personnel contracts and pay: The committee approved a 4% salary increase for the 2026–27 school year for named administrative and non-contractual positions and renewed the district treasurer’s one-year contract with a 4% cost-of-living increase. The committee also approved three-year contracts (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2029) for the school business administrator, the senior assistant principal, and assistant principal Bo Champ. Committee members confirmed the 4% applies to the first year of multi-year contracts with subsequent years subject to renegotiation.

All recorded motions on these items were moved, seconded and approved on roll call with affirmative votes by the members recorded in the transcript. No recorded votes were negative or abstentions in the segments covering these actions.

Next procedural steps: the committee entered executive session later in the meeting under M.G.L. c.30A §21(a)(2) for strategy and bargaining-related matters; no substantive public details of negotiations were discussed in open session.